"For Colored Girls" heads to the big screen, Tyler Perry-style

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:20am

LIONSGATE announced today that it has acquired worldwide distribution rights to filmmaker Tyler Perry's adaptation of Ntozake Shange's award-winning 1975 play FOR COLORED GIRLS WHO HAVE CONSIDERED SUICIDE WHEN THE RAINBOW IS ENUF. Perry will write, direct and produce...Lionsgate plans to release the film in 2010...

I adore that show, and while Tyler has a great knack for casting, I'm not sure he'll be able to pull this off. Keeping fingers crossed, because I adore this play.
Lionsgate & Tyler Perry To Make Movie Of 'For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide When The Rainbow Is Enuf'

[CAX]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:22am

EEK. MADEA will be The Woman in Red.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:32am

Eek.

[scott68]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:36am

I hope for the play's sake that it turns out well, but considering his knack for making incredibly (and/or inexplicably) profitable live theater, I just wish he had funded the Broadway revival of the show with India Arie instead.

[Scarywarhol]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:40am

Oh, Christ. Someone's got to keep him away.

[CurtisTaylorJr2]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:42am

Can this really be adapted for film? It seems like it's one of those pieces that are strictly for the stage because of how it's written.

Perry has done films without Madea, so I doubt Madea will be a part of this. He's a good director, The Family That Preys proved that, it was nothing like his other movies.
Updated On: 9/4/09 at 01:42 AM

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 8:08am

What does it mean he will write it? I'm sure when Tyler was a little girl, this play really spoke to him.

[CAX]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 8:55am

Surely, Namo, you're not suggesting because he's a man he's incapable of writing a female part? The play is done and has been for a while... What I fear is him making it something sappy.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:46am

Unless he secretly has a vagina he needs to stay away.

[Wayman_Wong]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 11:43am

For the record, Tyler Perry is a playwright/actor who's written and toured in 10 of his plays, and his movies have grossed over $400 million worldwide. ... And in case anyone forgot, the original Broadway production of 'For Colored Girls' was directed by a black man, Oz Scott, who went on to direct/produce for TV (i.e., 'Cheetah Girls,' 'C.S.I.'). ... Perry's got skills and knows his audience. Let's at least give him the benefit of the doubt and a chance to showcase some terrific African-American actresses and introduce Ntozake Shange's work to a whole new generation.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 11:46am

But does he have a vagina?

[aliciag]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 12:38pm

I'm still unsure of how I feel about this... I read the play this summer and it made me wish the Broadway production had not fallen through. I do agree with Wayman_Wong and I think that having his name attached will bring in an audience that would not be introduced to this material otherwise (and I think it is an important piece to see), so I am happy that it will be getting something. Fingers crossed for a great adaptation! And I have faith that he'll be able to find a great cast as well.

[dg22894]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 12:56pm

I liked the Family that preys and if he did what he did with that with this it would be amazing.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 1:20pm

Hopefully India is cast in the film.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 5:27pm

None of his films seem to get much critical response, so we'll see.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 6:01pm

I agree with scott.

I have seen all of his movies and like most of them. To succeed i don't think they even need much critical response as it seems he already has a built in audience. But I really don't want him to get his hands on this piece. (Although he already has) I would rather see it back on stage. JMO

Posted: 9/4/09 at 6:21pm

His movies are horrible, his TV shows an embarrassment. I am glad I'm not attached to this show.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 6:45pm

I hear your screenname is being changed to Tyler Perry's JoeKv99

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 6:58pm

I just worry that in trying to open up the movie, he is going to turn it into "Waiting to Exhale 2"

[TheatreDiva90016]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 7:22pm

NNNNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/4/09 at 10:46pm

A bit of his script has aready been posted on the internet

Woman in Yellow: The darker the berry, the sweeter the juice.

Woman in Red: She don't know me. I'll break her down like a fraction.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 11:07am

According to Tyler Perry...

"Here's my dream cast, and it hasn't been officially announced yet. There are 15 characters in the film and my dream cast is Kimberly Elise, Cicely Tyson, Ruby Dee, Maya Angelou, Oprah Winfrey, Halle Berry, Angela Bassett, Thandie Newton, Mariah Carey, Alicia Keys, and Beyonce. I've talked to 6 of the women and they have said yes. You have to figure out that part."

I haven't seen Alicia can't, or at least can't remember, but one thing I do know is we need please stop hiring Mariah and Beyonce to "act" in their movies.
Tyler Perry Reveals His Dream Cast of 'For Colored Girls...'

[Gothampc]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 12:46pm

Tyler Perry needs to look right under his nose with "Madea Goes To Jail" and cast Viola Davis. Her work in Doubt was excellent.

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 1:57pm

I just don't want to see Beyonce in this. Mariah Carey is getting good buzz about her performance in her latest movie but I don't want to see her in it either.

[Brick]

Posted: 9/12/09 at 9:07pm

The original play is so powerful. I just hope Perry can see that and not dilute that force with his "spoonful of sugar" approach.

But if he succeeds, then I can't think of a better way to get this property to a wide audience.